>> And the children's book captures the passion and creativity of the late Kentucky born artist Alice Wilson and a local businesswoman launches a podcast to help others find success as entrepreneurs.

A conversation with writer Jay Mohr Waldron.

And later, how green of crank and boom craft ice cream.

Now on connections.

♪ ♪ Thank you for joining us for connections today.

I'm Renee Shaw from Art to Ice Cream and podcast.

We talk to 2 fabulous women today about their work.

Later you'll hear from Tal Green.

The owner of crank and boom craft ice cream about a new podcast.

She's launching the give some tricks of the trade in owning your own business.

First up, though, writer and attorney Jay Mohr Waldrup is devoted to elevating stories of her native western Kentucky.

Her debut children's book, a journey and collar.

The Art of Alice Wilson illustrates how the Mayfield born African-American nurtured his passion for bringing color and everyday life experiences to canvas.

During the time of racial segregation to become a critically acclaimed artist whose vibrant works decorate many art museums and private collections.

Jay more Thank you so much for being here with us.

Thank you.

My pleasure.

This is a beautifully illustrated book.

We had a chance to really chat about it before we started our recording and it really is so suitable.

I mean, I'm much older than your target but I'm sure kids will just be enraptured by the story and the illustration.

Tell us why you wanted to do this book almost as an homage to Mayfield, born.

Well, Mister Ellis Wilson.

>> Well, I grew up in Western Kentucky, also in Paducah, which is about 20 miles from a field.

And I have never heard of Ellis Wilson, the artist and I also studied art history at the University of Kentucky as an undergraduate.

And I had not been taught about Ellis Wilson.

So when I discovered him well into middle age.

I was really inspired and intrigued by his story.

And I wanted to know more about him.

I first learned of him through a K E T Dot humanity that was in the late 1990's.

And I think it aired in the year 2000 called so much to paint.

At the same Albert's parents who was the director of the Clare in the Gulf Gallery.

Murray State University put together a retrospective art exhibit that was shown at Murray State and at the University of Kentucky Art Museum.

So is he?

Searched for and found all of Ellis Wilson's paintings or many of them from museums and private collections and borrow them for this retrospective at the same time, a book was published by University Press of Kentucky called the Art of Ellis Wilson.

So those are my primary resources for learning about Ellis Wilson.

>> Well, and the book we have it the very first page and it you see this young Alice Wilson who is just and chanted and gazing, you can see at paintings and says at a time when most folks saw the world as black or white and that's a in many ways young Alice Wilson Watch colors dance across the canvas and we were talking about how he really painted everyday life experiences from just occupations and and just living your life in a time when there was so much darkness, he brought such vivid boldness to what he saw as a world that really had that to offer.

>> Right.

He what?

He was awarded the Guggenheim Fellowship twice in the 1940's, one of the first African-American artist to receive the Guggenheim and in his applications.

He talked about that.

He wanted to paint every thing of He wanted to paint that there was so much to pay.

So little time.

Uh, I'm us.

I think reveals a lot about his personality.

He also in his application that he wanted to paint other African-Americans in living their daily lives and I think he did so with such dignity and respect.

And honesty.

4 people, you know, working in auto factories.

A fisherman, women strolling with their children, just living their lives, but he captured them with such beauty and such vivid colors that.

If you look at his art, you study his art.

You see that he really did save the world, been a beautiful and different way.

A unique way.

>> And he learned by watching his father, right, who was a body shop owner and kind of discouraged him like you can make a living.

He did.

His father ran a successful barbershop in the segregated black community of the bottom in Mayfield, his mother was a domestic worker and also very involved in Second Christian Church.

He was one of the founders of Second Christian Church in Mayfield, which still staying And after the tornado that struck Mayfield in December of 2021, that's an important landmark.

And there it is.

Did survive the tornado.

Yes.

So he watched us.

He saw his father's paintings.

His father, although he was a barber by profession, he took a few lessons from an itinerant art instructor and painter in Mayfield and head to paintings that Ellis Wilson saw as a child and And in an interview in 1975, with the journalist Camille Billups, Ellis Wilson talked about that he was inspired to become an artist by his father and he was inspired to get his college to education from his mother and his first generation college educated, which, you know, for a person born in 18, 99, right?

That was quite an accomplishment and any family to have college educated children, right?

Coming up.

So tended what is now known as Kentucky State University in Frankfort, the historically black college in Kentucky.

He learned he soon learned there that he couldn't study art there.

There were limited to areas of study primarily education to become a teacher or agriculture to become a farmer.

So Ellis Wilson didn't want to be either.

He wanted to be an artist and he made that commitment.

To become an artist.

In 1919, when he was accepted to attend the Art Institute of Chicago.

He was one of the few African-American students there and had been rejected by other schools.

They are accepting out.

Yes, and also that there just weren't those opportunities right for black students and black artists in the south.

So he like 6 million other black Americans in the South went north as part of the great migration for better especially educational opportunities.

So he steadied at Art Institute of Chicago and became a classically trained artist.

You know, you see those artists to museum sketching and painting and hopping are working from live models and that was Ellis Wilson's path.

So his journey took him north to Chicago.

He completed his degree there.

His journey continued on to New York City and he became an important part of the Harlem Renaissance art community and the culture of of art.

They're motivated him and encourage him.

And he became an important part of that Many of us may it.

Ellis will send through I popular sick call back in the 90's.

The Cosby Show.

>> And one of the paintings, this one that you're saying on the screen.

This is the development of what we often refer to as the funeral and many of us have tried to get reproductions of that because we loved saying that and then many of us were at that time.

I, myself included, were prompted Lauren who was artists there because I never heard of the men more funny episode where?

>> Claire Huxtable learns that her Uncle Ellis is painting is going to be auctioned at a really fancy art auction in New York.

And you know, there are a lot of comedic elements in an art auction, you know, and the worry about over So, of course, that was a really funny episode.

I never KET that Uncle her Uncle Alice issue as he was portrayed in the show was Ellis Wilson right?

Who then the connection to Western Kentucky was not clear to me in that time.

But it was really funny episode.

You can still watch it online but that painting hung on the set for the entirety of the show and many people recognize that the funeral procession in it actually at the Thomas Todd Center in New Orleans.

That's where its permanent home It's well, it's beautiful.

And and it it for I know that my family.

>> You know, remembered you don't do that anymore.

But the processional is were very emotional and sentimental moments and and seminal moments and that celebrating the transition of yes, one, yes.

>> And it's so true.

Still in New Orleans, Riad yet or is yes at a funeral processions are still an important part of the culture.

That's right.

That's right.

this is just an amazing work.

And I thank you for taking the time to capture him.

>> I'm from they the vibrancy and of his curiosity.

I think that's the other thing.

It is really illustrated about how he saw the world and then the way he hated the world.

And I think it's important for children to see that he was inspired as a child as a child.

And that perhaps they, too can stay true to their calling.

That's right.

And that are just now we should say before we go, that he died in relative obscurity and poverty.

He did this by his acclaim and his talent was still very difficult to make a living as an artist, I think, especially because during segregation that segregation, the even included art galleries, right?

And and opportunities to sell art.

And so I think that's an important part of the history that we need to recognize.

Well, thank you for taking the time to do that.

It is a beautifully illustrated book.

Beautiful words on the page as well.

And it is for all kids of all ages, but particularly those k through 5th graders will really intrigued by this book.

It is called again a journey in color.

>> The art of Alice Wilson, thank you, Jane.

It's been a pleasure to have you.

My pleasure to be here.

And we want you to stay with us because one of central Kentucky's favorite craft ice cream makers is working up a new venture.

>> So help those with aspirations to run their own business and help them find success to Al Green is owner of crank and boom craft ice cream and she'll talk about it next.

Stay with us.

♪ ♪ I'm excited to have a good friend, a new friend, Al Green.

And I know that folks who live in Lexington in central Kentucky.

>> Crank and boom is best ice cream around.

The same was blind.

But we're going to talk to her about more than just ice Cream.

Scott, a podcast that she's launching and we're glad to have town with us.

Good to see you.

Thank you for having me.

So I do want to ask you because I know a lot of people are after the when storm that we all experienced by the time this airs have been a couple of weeks.

How the business doing how you doing other kids do it and we're fine.

We lost power to one of our locations, the clays Mill location and >> where we tried to say the ice cream as long as possible.

We have dropped bunkers of dry ice, but we only had so much dry ice and >> just the timing, we did lose some product.

And and I appreciate all the folks out there that volunteer to help meet.

>> Haha.

Yeah, I work out this time.

Will plan better for the next apocalyptic.

You know, yeah, storm but >> you know, we're all safe and we didn't have any damage to any of our buildings.

And so we're we're grateful for that.

Well, that's wonderful.

And it is interesting.

I think we all think about how do we prepare for these and these events?

You know, they always have the signs that march a severe It just kind of drive by them and thinking, oh, yeah, so but now we all know, right?

And it doesn't have to more than wind was destructive enough, right?

I do feel responsible for the whole thing because at 2 o'clock that afternoon on Friday I sent a snarky tax to my neighbor with his trash can fallen down saying what is this a tornadic event that they're talking about?

Also, I from the instructed the weather gods and angered them.

And so I'm very sorry.

Well, haha larger I will not like no more snark ease around that.

Just, you know, believe the weather, folks.

That's right.

That's right.

Or just take the precaution His if having your business isn't enough to do.

>> Tell us about your new venture.

Yeah.

So I'm saw.

So I have been thinking about this project for probably 2 years we're starting a podcast.

It's launching on March.

The 28th and Tuesday.

And I guess for me, you know, I've been in this industry.

>> As an adult for almost 20 years and I've operated restaurant.

You know, we've had our ice cream business.

We've had all sorts of different capacities and how we've done our business.

We've done a food truck.

We've done a food tent.

We have done wholesale.

We have done We've gotten our stuff on shelves and I just felt like after all this time why we have acquired all the stories and knowledge in and, you know, horror stories, right that have happened in our business and it can be a lonely road being an entrepreneur.

And I just thought what better way to share our stories than a podcast and what would I have wished for when I was starting out and then use the things that have helped me along the way.

Our mentors and people who have told me, hey, it's OK, if you're struggling, it's OK for you to be scared.

It's OK for you to cry.

Because it's a hard journey.

And so I wanted to to just capture that and capture our stories in a place that we could share our stories for other folks who are also thinking about their entrepreneurial journey or they're they're they're thinking about it or they're already going through it.

Yeah.

And specially in the food industry is, you know, particularly an interesting industry to bay.

but, you know, those of us who are in it are in it because we because we love it, you know, and just wanting to be a comforting air for other people going down the same path will having some friends who I know who are in the food industry restaurant tours to talk about, you know, we're not living high on the hog.

That's some pretty good profit margins.

And you often have to have other revenue streams.

>> In order to help support and to prop up the business and you Matt, think I there live in.

>> Live in my life where I live, right?

Right?

I'm you know, I'm yet to purchase my what I'm doing something wrong or, you know, maybe I'm in the wrong industry.

But, >> you know, we do it.

We do it because we love it.

And, you know, I've grown up in the business.

even though I tried to escape it, leaving Kentuckyian trying to do something else, it ultimately was in my blood and it was in my soul.

And I just I feel like this is kind of the next evolution of maybe I'm not in there making ice cream anymore.

But can I share my knowledge?

And can I be encouraging to others?

And that that is so exciting to me.

And that's why I'm stoked about this project.

Yeah.

So the podcast March.

28, this is the debut.

So how frequently will you do that?

It will be a weekly podcast coming out on Tuesday and the launch will actually have 3 episodes that will for opening.

So you can get a feel we've already first 2 episodes and the trailer.

So those will be out soon.

The trailer will be out But it will be on, you know, where you get your podcast.

>> Cool.

So what are you?

Can you give in spoiler alert?

I'll say this.

Can you give us a little sneak peek about what we might hear?

So the first 2 episodes is just going to be our story.

So it starts all the way back from.

>> My parents who immigrated here in the 70's and really builds the foundation of who I am and where I come from, because that's so important.

Our stories are where we come from.

And that's why we think the way we do and act the way we do.

And and, you know, run our business the way we do.

So it's a little bit of context of our story, how we became cranking boom, how ice cream came about and then other episodes will be some of it will be like tactical Mike.

>> How do you build a your dream team?

How what do you do when you want to know?

How do you know when to hire your first employee?

It's a good question.

How do you know when to take the plunge?

You know, you've been thinking about this idea that you love to start your own business, but what does it take to actually take the plunge and what sort of mindset you have to be in to know when you're ready.

So those sorts of things and then tactical, you know, tips what sort of platforms we use that are free that you can use to help run your business.

Yeah.

If you think about the evolution, particularly of social media and the time that you've been doing this, I mean, how much of a benefit has that been for your business?

Oh, gosh, it's I mean, it's everything.

You know, when when cranking booms relief or start in the back of our Thai restaurant, it was just Facebook and now the amount of platforms that are out there that are helpful.

We're just talking today about our point of sale system is an outdated.

Are there so many new technologies out there Technology changes so fast.

So you know, what are we using?

That's helping us to communicate better, operate better do what we need to do day to day.

And I think a lot of people, you know, there's resources out there, obviously, but I I think what's unique about us is we've you know, we've built it from the ground out.

We don't have, you know, a huge amount of investors or anything like that are just trying to make it and I think there's so many people out there that, you yes, maybe we all would dream of having bazillion dollars.

But can we also dream about just doing something we love and making a living off of that work in nice, comfortable living out of that.

And I feel like there's so many people out there that that's all they really need.

And that's, you know, that's what we've done, right?

So something being a hobby and being a passion can still be a way to make a living because some people may think, well, I like to do this.

>> On the side, right?

This is my side hustle or I can it really be something that I can go full fledged full throttle into?

Did you have those conversations about am I doing the right thing here?

Well, I mean, I still think that this is, you know, now in my job, you know, I used to make ice cream.

I don't even make ice cream anymore.

We have a team that does that would mean they're amazing.

>> But you know, for me, I'm a creative person.

So I always need some creative project to work on in for the last I'd say 5 years, you know, the first 5 years of cranking boom, it was me making ice cream that was created process was creating these recipes and making these flavors and figuring out this business and going out to different festivals and what does that look like?

And then a transition to us building the business and that became the creative process right to build a business that we're proud of and that we want to have in the you know, because where I feel like we're so much more than ice cream, we stand for things that are important to I feel like we're community leaders.

I hope that we are an example of what a business can be and that you can you can run a business while also caring about the community and lifting people up as you go along.

And that's always been my dream.

And so I feel like this next stage is really the next creative process.

But yeah, you start.

It did start for us as a side.

Hustle the ice cream where a Thai restaurant and I started making ice cream just for dessert.

Options are and then eventually more people thought it was tasty in.

We're more interest in ice cream and they were Thai food in then, you know, it just kept building from that.

Yeah.

What are you a little side hustle.

He like turned into this, you know, died.

Antic thing that, you know, I feel like it is now.

Yeah.

And so are you going back to your journals and looking at and reminding yourself?

>> Maybe those times of questioning and challenge to say, OK, here's how I need to present this tour.

So how does the podcast, what is the what is the podcast format?

Is it just you talking?

Are the people you're interviewing?

It's going to be a mix.

It's going to be mostly me telling stories and then also.

>> Adding my tidbits of, you know, pieces of advice or at least maybe non advice sometimes was actually a d motivating speaker because I should tell people maybe should not do this because I've done it is a terrible idea.

I hope to have guests as Michael's going to be our first gas.

Awesome.

Also I was just so thankful and she's also a sponsor, the podcast as well.

So very, very grateful for She's always been so supportive of of what we've done and of women entrepreneurs.

And just I mean, she's just the best.

And so having guests who can also share their stories.

And, you know, for us sharing our stories as well.

Yeah, yes, she's a great example.

Social entrepreneur or I know there's several people who I know who really >> give back to the community either from their proceeds or just the way they even higher in pay and benefits.

I mean, it is a whole just kind of east coast.

Yes, right?

Sure.

Guided by.

Yeah.

And I think, you know, it's it's hard because the industry is made in a way.

>> That, you know, does it, you know, it gets a bad rap for our, you know, being poor, you know, poorly paid and no benefits and things and like that.

And we've we really wanted to change that again.

Really showcase that, you know, when you take care of your team, you pay them a good wage and they're able to earn a good, you know, a good wage for the job that they're doing.

And then Ben, being able to it offer benefits when we did that, I just I.

It was such a lift on my heart because when you're starting out, it's very hard to do that.

That's And so when we got to a stage or we could say, hey, we can, we can offer benefits.

Now we can.

You know, you don't have to worry about going to the doctor because you have insurance.

Now we have team members that have been with us for a long time and knowing that they were able to go to the hospital and know that they were cover because they wouldn't have otherwise.

Right.

Just knowing their That means so much an and.

That's what we want to do.

We want to build this community and we want to build our our team that way.

We want to showcase that it can be done.

And just, you know, set an example if we can.

But we're also trying to figure it out as we go.

So, you know, I wouldn't say I'm an expert by just can say that we have been through a lot.

Yeah.

And so that's what we want to share.

Do you miss making ice cream?

>> it's such a, you know, massive like manufacturing process.

Now.

I mean, we it still handmade hand but it is very repetitive.

And so for someone like me that needs some difference and creativity and it we still have fun making fun and sometimes I'll pop.

And I want you to tell us about a flavor that Utah recently.

Yes, Dish on that?

which one?

Which one was?

It was it Is it chicken and was yes Haha.

Okay.

Yeah.

We we tried to make a chicken and waffles flavor and >> did 6 different prototypes and some had chicken skin and some have boy, Aaron and and other ones had like a maple syrup swirl, which I would not recommend because it turns rock hard.

And with your teeth.

Oh, wow, 2 in.

Oh, you mean it's just that.

That's right.

Yeah, that sounds yummy.

So I think I think now after we've had more experience, we could probably still make that work.

But at the time it was it was very difficult and did not make it to market.

Yeah, he's like a fun thing to say, OK, what's of flavor, you know, and try to make ice cream out of it.

I mean, you know, if you can fry Snickers, you can do anything.

I mean, that's the that's the beauty of it is.

It's this blank canvas.

A fun.

Yeah.

So yeah.

Hit us with your weird ideas.

Yeah.

Probably find a way to make it happen.

Well, I'm so proud of and I have say real quickly, as we're running out of time the inauguration and the swearing in of the council for LAX in Fayette, Urban County government and your friend.

And Lou, he is the vice mayor of Lexington, Fayette County.

And you introduced him.

It was a beautiful, heartfelt introduction that unjust.

>> It just kind of set the whole atmosphere.

And I'm just so incredibly proud of how you represent our community and and the good ice cream two's.

Not so bad.

It's not too bad.

You are even better to you.

Thank you.

He was arraigned.

>> We thank town.

We also thank Miss Jane more water for joining us in her book is illustrated by Michael McBride.

So good that we're books are sold.

Make sure you connect with gas and all the ways on your screen.

And I will see you really soon.

Take good care.

♪ ♪ ♪